Lauderhill Fire officials confirmed Monday evening a 7-year-old playing with a lighter started a fire at an apartment complex.
The fire happened around 8 p.m. at the building located on Northwest 19th Street and 52nd Avenue.
Fire crews put out the blaze, but not before one of the units was torched. Lauderhill Fire officials said 15 people - including one person as young as four - were displaced. There were no reports of injuries.
"I touched the lighter and I flicked it and then touched the bed," said Woodkely Jonassaint, who started the fire.
Jonassaint said he tried to put it out with water, but the fire kept burning.
"I hear my brother calling me saying 'Donna Donna help, there's fire in the house,'" said his sister, Danica Clervius.
The child has been referred to a juvenile firesetter and intervention program, saying he has learned his lesson not to play with fire. His family says they forgive him.
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"I forgive him. Everybody make mistakes. My brother's just a little kid," Clervius said. "He really didn't know what he did, but we talked to him."
